Yachting: Camper sticking with Puma

Camper are enjoying the fast-running conditions at the front of the Volvo Ocean Race and are continuing to keep rivals Puma within reach. Photo / Hamish Hooper.

Camper are enjoying the fast-running conditions at the front of the Volvo Ocean Race and are continuing to keep rivals Puma within reach.

The light conditions of the Doldrums are behind Camper and for the last 24 hours they have been at full throttle with an average boat speed in excess of 20 knots and at time hitting almost 30 knots.

Camper is only four nautical miles behind Puma, with Telefonica slipping back to third.

The exhilarating sailing conditions are expected to be short lived, though, with the latest weather models predicting the trade winds to begin softening until the finish of leg six in Miami.

Camper skipper Chris Nicholson said: "It's very nice trade wind sailing. You don't get many days like these so you cherish them. We've probably only got another 48 hours or so of these conditions so we're making the most of them.

"It's an incredibly tight game out here at the moment and we're all pushing hard for every little inch of advantage. You just can't afford to be off the pace for a second."